Liquid dispenser



Aug. 18, 1936.

H. M. NICHOLLS' LIQUID DISPENSER Filed July :5, 1934 Patented Aug. 18, 1936 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFIQE LIQUID DISPENSER corporation of New Jersey Application July 3, 1934, Serial No. 733,663

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to liquid dispensing devices and has particular reference to the opening of sealed receptacles containing liquid suchas lubricating oil, to the dispensing of the liquid contents and to the collecting of the superficial liquid clinging to and draining back from the dispenser walls after a dispensing action so that the open receptacle from which the liquid has just been discharged as well as closed receptacles subsequently placed in and opened by the dispensing devices may be kept clean and free from such drainage liquid and also that the drainage liquid will not be wasted.

The subject matter of this application was disclosed in its broad aspects in my pending application Serial Number 686,625, filed August 24, 1933, on Liquid dispenser (Patent No. 1,970,573) and the instant case is a continuation in part of that application and embodies as a fundamental feature the catching of the drip or drain of liquid following the emptying of a receptacle.

An object of the invention is the provision of a liquid dispenser which is adapted as a holder for sealed liquid filled receptacles such as cans of lubricating oil and which opens and vents the cans by a simple movement of the opening elements, the contents of the opened can being dispensed by a mere tipping of the dispenser and such dispenser also embodies a drainage well so formed and so located that it collects and temporarily retains all of the superficial liquid draining back when the device has been righted again after the dispensing of the can contents, the liquid drainage being kept away from the can holding chamber of the dispenser and passing out with the contents of the next opened can when the dispenser is again tilted.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a, liquid dispenser of the character described having a pouring spout through which the can contents issue in the dispensing action and also having a drainage well in communication with the interior of the pouring spout so that the drainage liquid flowing back from the liquid contacted walls of the spout is collected in the drainage well and prevented from flowing over or onto the emptied can or onto the can holding parts.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a liquid dispensing device embodying the present invention, parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate its construction;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device illustrated in Fig. 1 being partly broken away and with the opening elements removed; and v Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view partially in side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1 illustrating the dispensing of the contents of an opened can.

A preferred embodiment of the invention such as is illustrated in the drawing comprises a dispensing holder ll open at the top and closed by a bottom member l2. This holder is preferably provided with a handle l3 formed with a straight upper section I l disposed in line with the upper rim of the holder.

The side wall of the holder on both sides and adjacent its upper end is cut away at [5 (Figs. 1 and 2) and a sealed receptacle or can l6 containing a liquid such as lubricating oil may be placed in the holder. The openings l5 permit holding of the container by the fingers during such positioning and also allow for its removal after ithas been emptied.

A pouring spout 2! is provided having a pair of side wings 22 (see also Figs. 2 and 3) at the bottom of the spout which are secured to the exterior front wall of the holder II. This pouring spout extends upwardly and at an angle and is generally conical in form. The upper end of the pouring spout terminates in a tubular mouth or discharge opening and below this end the spout is cut away along its top to provide a clearance or transverse opening 23 for an opening lever 24.

The opening lever is preferably formed with spaced rear legs connected at the back in an integral curved end, these legs providing a handle for the lever. The forward ends of the lever legs are spaced at 28 as illustrated in Fig. 2 and the ends are located adjacent the side walls of the spout. The front leg ends 28 are connected by a transversely disposed, shouldered pin 3| which is pivotally mounted at 32 in the side Walls of the spout.

The lower part of the spout 2| projects down as a spaced cylindrical wall 33 (Figs. 1 and 2) which is parallel to and concentric with a'front wall section 34 of the holder ll. At the bottom the wall 33 merges into a right angled wall 35 which in turn merges into a cylindrical flange 36. The latter engages with the lower part of the holder wall 34.

The spaced walls 33, 34 together with the wall 35 andthe lower portion of the spout 2| enclose a drainage well 37 which is in constant communication with the interior of the pouring spout. The purpose of this will be again referred to.

The opening lever 24 has two positions of rest, one an open position where the lever extends parallel to the front Wall 34 of the holder H and the other a closed position where it is at substantially right angles and with its handle part against the handle section i l. The latter position is illustrated in Fig. 3.

When the opening lever is in its open position, the open top of the holder H is unobstructed and the sealed can it may be easily inserted within the holder. The can when inserted is a snug fit as it rests upon the bottom of the holder, its top edge being a slight distance below the top rim surrounding the open end of the holder. With the can in position within the holder it is opened preparatory to dispensing its contents by swinging the opening lever 24 into its closed position. I

' A hollow puncturing member or cutter 45 (Figs. 1 and 3) is provided for cutting a dispensing opening in the can. This cutter comprises spaced sidewalls 46 joined by a front curved wall part 4? which terminates in adepending piercing point 48, the curve of the front wall of the cutter being substantially the same as the curvature of the inside wall of the can.

This hollow cutter 45 is located between the front end sections 28 of the opening lever and is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 4!? which is anchored at its ends in the lever wall sections. Each side wall 46 of the-cutter is bent outwardly at 5! above the upper edge of its adjacent lever leg 28 and functions as a stop lug (Fig. 1).

The two lugs 5! rest directly'upon the upper edges of the lever except when the cutter 45 is doing its cutting in opening the can. The cutter is yieldingly held by a spring 52 (Fig. 3) which is connected between a pin 53 extending across and held in the cutter Walls 36 and a pin 54 anchored in the spaced front legs of the opening lever.

Lever 24 also carries a vent blade. 55 which is located between its rear legs. The vent blade is provided with a pointed and beveled piercing edge 56 and projects below the lever. This blade is preferably cut through with a transverse opening 5'! to prevent blocking off of the vent hole made in the can during opening as hereinafter described.

The piercing edge of the vent blade is enclosed most of the time ina protector. For this purpose there is provided a protecting shield 58 formed with sidewalls 59 normally extending down below the piercing point. The shield is pivotally mounted on a pin 6i carried in the legs of the opening lever. When shielded the vent parts are not exposed (Fig. .1).

For the can opening action, the opening lever 24 is first brought down from its open position into a position substantially that shown in Fig. 1 where the piercing point 48 of the cutter 45 engages the top of the can Hi just inside and adjacent its side wall. 7

' From this position further depression of the lever forces the hollow cutter 48 into the can top, the spring 52 of the cutter holding the front cutter wall 4'! against the interior of the wall of the can. To accomplish this, the cutter pivots on its mounting in the opening lever, the spring 52 yielding just enough to properly hold the front cutting edge for a close out (Fig: 2).

During this cutting action the curved lower edges of the cutter force against the cut metal and curl back the severed part (designated by the numeral 65) away from the can wall. Fig. 3 illustrates the final position assumed by the parts when the can is completely opened.

In coming into the position of Fig. 3, the piercing point 55 of the vent blade 55 also cuts into the top wall of the can. The rounded edges of the shield walls 59 after engaging the can top, cause the shield 58 to move relative to the opening lever so that the vent blade is properly exposed for its cutting action.

A pouring opening 66 (Fig. 2) is thus cut in the can top and a vent opening 61 is also cut in the can top on the opposite side. The vent blade 55 remains in the vent opening 61 as long as the opening lever 24 engages the section 54 of the dispenser handle I3. As has already been intimated the opening 51 in the vent blade permits air to pass from the outside of the can. This properly vents the same during the dispensing action. 7

Where the dispensing device is used for lubricating oil or similar substances there is a thin coating of superficial oil which adheres to the inside wall of the pouring spout. When the dispenser is again righted after the dispensing action this oil gradually drains back to'its lowest available point. It will also be observed (Fig. 3)

that some of the oil flows over the front ends 28 0 of the opening lever and this oil will also drain or drip from the lever and onto the walls of the pouring spout when the dispenser has been righted.

This superficial oil flows into the lower end of the spout and into the chamber 31 which acts as a collecting and retaining well or reservoir. The front wall 34 of the holder H prevents any of the oil flowing onto the opened can H6 or into the can holding parts of the holder. This collecting provision prevents soiling of the opened can H5 or soiling of other cans subsequently placed in the holder, the inside walls of the holder being free from oil.

The opening lever 24 is moved back into its open position when a new closed can I6 is to be substituted for the opened can just considered. At such time the latter is easily removed by engaging its upper end through the clearance slots l5 and a new can is as easily inserted as desired. When the dispenser is again tilted for-the next succeeding dispensing action the collected drainage oil in the chamber 31 fiows out with the succeeding can contents. This is graphically shown in Fig. 3. In this way no oil is wasted.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described j being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A liquid dispensing device comprising, a holder adapted to receive a sealed receptacle containing a liquid to be dispensed, a pouring spout associated with said holder, means also associated with said holder for opening the receptacle, and a drain well communicating with the inner end of said spout for collecting that superficial liquid contents of the receptacle which clings to and drains back from the interior walls of said spout after dispensing the receptacle contents, said drain well being formed by flaring laterally the walls of said spout to provide a chamber having its outer wall extending partially around and secured to the outer Wall of said holder.

2. A liquid dispensing device comprising, a holder adapted to receive a sealed receptacle containing a liquid to be dispensed, a pouring spout associated with said holder, means also associated with said holder and insertable in the receptacle confined therein for forming an opening in the receptacle to permit dispensing of its liquid contents through said spout, the inner wall portions of said pouring spout being diverted laterally to extend partially around said holder to provide a drain we1l disposed between said spout and holder for collecting any liquid draining back from the interior of said spout after dispensing so that it is prevented from flowing back into said holder.

3. A liquid dispensing device comp-rising, a holder adapted to receive sealed receptacles containing a liquid to be dispensed, a pouring spout associated with said holder, an opening lever also associated with said holder, means carried by said lever for opening the receptacle to permit dispensing of its liquid contents through said spout, and a drain well communicating with and extending laterally from said spout and disposed between the latter and the outer wall of the holder for collecting any undispensed liquid draining back from the interior walls of said spout.

4. A liquid dispensing device comprising, a holder adapted to receive sealed receptacles containing a liquid to be dispensed, a pouring spout associated with said holder, an opening lever also associated with said holder, puncturing means carried by said lever and insertable into the receptacle confined into said holder for forming an opening in the receptacle to permit dispensing of its liquid contents through said spout, and a drain well communicating with and extending laterally from said spout and disposed between the latter and the outer wall or" the holder for collecting and retaining until the next dispensing action any liquid draining back from the interior of said spout.

5. A liquid dispensing device comprising, a holder adapted to receive a sealed receptacle containing a liquid to be dispensed, a pouring spout associated with said holder, an opening lever having one end pivotally mounted in said spout, puncturing means carried by said lever and insertable in the receptacle confined in said holder for forming an opening in the receptacle through which its contents are dispensed by way of said spout, and a drain well formed in the base of said spout and in open communication with its interior for collecting and temporarily retaining any liquid draining back from the walls of said spout and from the end of said lever following a dispensing action, the outer wall of said drain well consisting of a deflected wall portion of said spout spaced from and extending partially around the wall of said holder.

6. A liquid dispensing device comprising, a holder adapted to receive a sealed receptacle containing a liquid to be dispensed, a pouring spout associated with said holder, an opening lever having one end operable in said spout, puncturing means carried by said lever and insertable in the receptacle confined in said holder for forming an opening in the receptacle through which its contents are dispensed by way of said spout, and a drain well formed in the base of said spout for collecting and temporarily retaining any liquid draining back from the interior of said spout following a dispensing action, the outer wall of said drain well consisting of a deflected wall portion of said spout spaced from and extending partially around the wall of said holder.

7. A liquid dispensing device comprising, a holder adapted to receive a sealed receptacle containing a liquid to be dispensed, a pouring spout associated with said holder and having a laterally deflected extension at the base thereof, puncturing means also associated with said holder and insertable in the receptacle confined therein for forming an opening in the receptacle to permit dispensing of its liquid contents through said spout, and a drain well formed between a wall of said holder and said laterally deflected extension of said spout for collecting any liquid draining back from the interior of said spout.

8. A liquid dispensing device comprising, a holder adapted to receive a sealed receptacle containing a liquid to be dispensed, a pouring spout associated with said holder, puncturing means also associated with said holder and insertable in the receptacle confined in said holder for opening the receptacle to permit dispensing of its liquid contents through said spout when the dispensing device is tilted, and a drain well disposed on the outside of said holder and communicating with said spout for catching the liquid draining back from the spout when the dispensing device is righted after a pouring action, the liquid thus collecting in said well mingling with the liquid contents of a succeeding opened receptacle in a following dispensing action, the outer wall of said drain well consisting of a laterally deflected wall portion of said spout spaced from and extending partially around said holder.

9. A liquid dispensing device comprising, a holder adapted to receive a sealed receptacle containing a liquid to be dispensed, a pouring spout associated with said holder, an opening lever pivotally connected with said spout, puncturing means carried by said lever, a vent blade also carried by said lever, said puncturing means and vent blade being insertable in the receptacle confined in said holder for forming an opening in the receptacle to permit dispensing of its liquid contents through said spout, and a drain well disposed between said spout and said holder below said lever for collecting and retaining any liquid draining back from the interior of said spout and from said cutter and said lever, the outer wall of said drain well being spaced outwardly from and extending partially around said holder on opposite sides of said spout and being secured to said holder.

HENRY M. NICHOLLS. 

